Graphical user interface including zoom control box representing image and magnification of displayed image

ABSTRACT

A graphical user interface (GUI) graphically corresponds to an image display window through which a single image or a stream of images or video frames are displayed. The GUI includes a zoom control box having an inner region positioned within an outer region. The size of the inner region relative to the outer region represents the magnification of the portion of the image being displayed within the image display window. The magnification of the image being displayed is increased by using a cursor control device to position a cursor within the inner region and clicking the cursor control device. The magnification of the image being displayed is decreased by using the cursor control device to position the cursor outside of the inner region but inside of the outer region and clicking the cursor control device. As the magnification is increased or decreased, the size of the inner region relative to the outer region is changed accordingly. A magnification factor is also displayed within the inner region to display a numeric representation of the current magnification. The position of the inner region within the outer region represents the portion of the entire image being displayed within the image display window. The portion of the image being displayed within the image display window is changed by clicking and dragging the inner region to the desired position within the outer region using the cursor control device.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application based on prior applicationSer. No. 09/433,978, filed on Nov. 4, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,803,391.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of computers and imagedisplay devices having graphically-oriented user interfaces. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to the field of computersand image display devices having graphically-oriented user interfacesthrough which the display of an image is graphically controlled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Image display devices are used to display both still images and movingvideo images, which are generated by or stored locally within the imagedisplay device or received from an external source device. A still orvideo frame image will herein be referred to collectively as an image.Typically, the image display device displays the image or series ofimages within an image display window, which takes up either all or aportion of the display area of the image display device. An imagedisplay device can include one or more image display windows in whichimages are displayed.

Image display devices include both televisions and personal computer(PC) monitors. Existing televisions and PC monitors are different.Televisions generally have a medium display resolution capability andseveral analog interfaces for receiving input signals, such as acomposite video interface, an s-video interface and a radio frequencyinterface for radio frequency signals received over coaxial cable.Although, televisions are advancing in their ability to displayincreasingly higher resolutions of video and graphic data, consumervideo resolution has changed little over time. While the picture tube ofPC monitors is based on consumer television technology, PC monitors ordisplays have different resolution requirements than consumertelevisions, due to the need for PC monitors to have the ability todisplay legible small text and fine lines for detailed work. To meetthis need, PC monitors have a higher resolution than consumertelevisions and very different high bandwidth interfaces, such as VideoGraphics Array (VGA), Super VGA (SVGA) and RGB. In most modern computersystems an operating system provides a graphical interfac for thecomputer user. The user can run application programs, manipulate files,and perform most other necessary functions through this graphicalinterface by manipulating images on the computer's display. Thismanipulation is accomplished by using cursor control keys and otherkeyboard keys or by using a cursor controlling peripheral device such asa joystick, mouse or trackball.

A schematic block diagram of a typical configuration including anexternal image source 10 and a host computer system 20 is illustrated inFIG. 1. The external image source 10 is coupled to an interface port 28of the computer system 20 by a bus or cable for transmitting image orvideo data to the computer system 20 for display. The host computersystem 20, illustrated in FIG. 1, is exemplary only and includes acentral processor unit (CPU) 42, a main memory 30, a video displayadapter 22 such as a graphics adapter (VGA) card, a mass storage device32 and an interface circuit 28, all coupled together by a conventionalbidirectional system bus 34. The mass storage device 32 may include bothfixed and removable media using any one or more of magnetic, optical ormagneto-optical storage technology or any other available mass storagetechnology. The system bus 34 contains an address bus for addressing anyportion of the memory 30. The system bus 34 also includes a data bus fortransferring data between and among the CPU 42, the main memory 30, thedisplay adapter 22, the mass storage device 32 and the interface circuit28.

The host computer system 20 is also coupled to a number of peripheralinput and output devices including the keyboard 38, the mouse 40 and theassociated display 36. The keyboard 38 is coupled to the computer systemvia a keyboard/mouse interface 46 for allowing a user to input data andcontrol commands into the computer system 20. A conventional mouse 40 iscoupled to the keyboard 38 for manipulating graphic images on thedisplay 36 as a cursor control device. Alternatively, as is known in theart, the mouse 40 is coupled directly to the computer system 20 througha serial port.

The display adapter 22 interfaces between the components within thecomputer system 20 and the display 36. The display adapter 22 convertsdata received from the components within the computer system 20 intosignals which are used by the display 36 to generate images for displayin one or more image display windows.

To control the display of a single image or a stream of images, such asa video stream, on an image display device, such as the display 36, auser typically has to manually change control parameters of the imagedisplay device or particular image display window, such as resolution ormagnification, either on the display device 36, or within theapplication program providing the image to be displayed or operating theimage display window. Another conventional method of changing parameterssuch as resolution or magnification is to use zoom control features tozoom in or zoom out on the image itself. However, when using such zoomcontrol features, and the image is magnified to be bigger than thedisplay window, the user then also has to use separate positionalcontrols on the edge of the display window to display different portionsof the image. There is currently a lack of image display devices whichallow easy control of display parameters such as zoom and magnificationto control the display of an image within an image display window.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A graphical user interface (GUI) graphically corresponds to an imagedisplay window through which a single image or a stream of images orvideo frames are displayed. The GUI includes a zoom control box havingan inner region positioned within an outer region. The inner region andouter region could be rectangular, oval, or other shape. The size of theinner region relative to the outer region represents the magnificationof the portion of the image being displayed within the image displaywindow. The magnification of the image being displayed is increased byusing a cursor control device to position a cursor within the innerregion and clicking the cursor control device. The magnification of theimage being displayed is decreased by using the cursor control device toposition the cursor outside of the inner rectangle region but inside ofthe outer rectangle region and clicking the cursor control device. Asthe magnification is increased or decreased, the size of the innerregion relative to the outer region is changed accordingly. Amagnification factor is also displayed within the inner region todisplay a numeric representation of the current magnification. Theposition of the inner region within the outer region represents theportion of the entire image being displayed within the image displaywindow. The portion of the image being displayed within the imagedisplay window is changed by clicking and dragging the inner region tothe desired position within the outer region using the cursor controldevice.

In one aspect of the present invention, a graphical user interface forcontrolling magnification of and portion of an original image displayedwithin an image display window includes an outer region representing theoriginal image and an inner region positioned within the outer region,wherein a size of the inner region relative to the outer regionrepresents the magnification of the original image being displayedwithin the image display window. A position of the inner region withinthe outer region represents the portion of the original image beingdisplayed within the image display window. The size and position of theinner region relative to the outer region is changed in response toinput commands. The size of the inner region is decreased when an inputcommand is entered selecting the inner region. The size of the innerregion is increased when an input command is entered selecting the outerregion. The graphical user interface is preferably displayed on acomputer system having a display, a memory, and an input device. Theinput commands are entered using the input device and the inner andouter regions are selected by positioning a cursor within an appropriateregion and clicking the input device. The input device is preferably amouse. The graphical user interface further includes a magnificationfactor displayed within the inner region which numerically representsthe magnification of the original image being displayed within the imagedisplay window.

In another aspect of the present invention, a graphical user interfacefor controlling magnification of and portion of an original imagedisplayed within an image display window includes an outer regionrepresenting the original image and an inner region positioned withinthe outer region, wherein a position of the inner region within theouter region represents the portion of the original image beingdisplayed within the image display window. A size of the inner regionrelative to the outer region represents the magnification of theoriginal image being displayed within the image display window. Thegraphical user interface further comprises a magnification factordisplayed within the inner region which numerically represents themagnification of the original image being displayed within the imagedisplay window.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of controllingmagnification of and portion of an original image displayed within animage display window includes the steps of displaying a zoom control boxincluding an inner region positioned within an outer region, wherein asize of the inner region relative to the outer region represents themagnification of the original image being displayed within the imagedisplay window and further wherein a position of the inner region withinthe outer region represents the portion of the original image beingdisplayed within the image display window and changing the size andposition of the inner region in response to input commands. The size ofthe inner region is decreased when an input command is entered selectingthe inner region. The size of the inner region is increased when aninput command is entered selecting the outer region. The input commandsare entered using a cursor control device and the inner and outerregions are selected by positioning a cursor within an appropriateregion and clicking the cursor control device. The method furtherincludes the step of displaying the portion of the original image withinthe image display window. The steps of displaying are all preferablycompleted on a display of a computer system, wherein the computer systemincludes the display, a memory and an input device. The input device ispreferably a mouse. The method further includes the step of displaying amagnification factor within the inner region numerically representingthe magnification of the original image being displayed within the imagedisplay window. The method further includes the step of receiving theoriginal image from an image source. The original image is a still imageor a frame within a video stream.

In still yet another aspect of the present invention, in a computersystem having a display, a memory and an input device, a graphical userinterface for controlling magnification of and portion of an originalimage displayed within an image display window includes an outer regionrepresenting the original image and an inner region positioned withinthe outer region, wherein a size of the inner region relative to theouter region represents the magnification of the original image beingdisplayed within the image display window and further wherein a positionof the inner region within the outer region represents the portion ofthe original image being displayed within the image display window. Thegraphical user interface further includes a magnification factordisplayed within the inner region which numerically represents themagnification of the original image being displayed within the imagedisplay window. The size and position of the inner region relative tothe outer region is changed in response to input commands from the inputdevice. The size of the inner region is decreased and the magnificationfactor is increased when an input command is entered selecting the innerregion and further wherein the size of the inner is increased and themagnification factor is decreased when an input command is enteredselecting the outer region. The inner and outer regions are selected bypositioning a cursor within an appropriate region and clicking the inputdevice. The input device is preferably a mouse. The computer system isfurther configured to receive the original image from an image source.The original image is a selective one of a still image and a framewithin a video stream.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a configurationincluding a host computer system and an external image source.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the image display window and a zoomcontrol box of the present invention in a default or original state witha magnification factor of 1×.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the image display window and a zoomcontrol box of the present invention with a magnification factor of 2×and positioned to display the top left-hand corner portion of theoriginal image.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the image display window and a zoomcontrol box of the present invention with a magnification factor of 2×and positioned to display the bottom right-hand corner portion of theoriginal image.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A graphical user interface (GUI) graphically corresponds to an imagedisplay window 110 through which a single image or a stream of images orvideo frames are displayed. The GUI and the image display window 110 aredisplayed on a display device such as a display device 36 of a computersystem 20, illustrated in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the GUI and the imagedisplay window 110 are displayed on and controlled by any one or moreappropriate devices. The GUI includes a zoom control box 100 having aninner region 102 positioned within an outer region 106.

A user controls aspects and changes parameters of the image displayedwithin the image display window 110 using a cursor control device 50,such as a keyboard 38 or mouse 40, of the computer system 20 illustratedin FIG. 1 to enter input commands within the zoom control box 100 byselecting appropriate regions of the zoom control box 100. The cursorcontrol device can be a mouse, keypad, trackball, touch pad, remotecontrol or other device, depending on the configuration of the hostsystem. Further, the cursor control device can be wired or wirelessusing radio, infrared or any other appropriate technology.

The size of the inner region 102 relative to the outer region 106represents the magnification of the portion of the image being displayedwithin the image display window 110. A magnification factor 104representing the current magnification of the image being displayedwithin the image display window 110 from the original image is displayedwithin the inner region 102. The magnification of the image beingdisplayed is increased by using a cursor control device 50 to position acursor within the inner region 102 and clicking the cursor controldevice 50. As the magnification is thus increased, the size of the innerregion 102 is decreased appropriately relative to the outer region 106and the magnification factor 104 is appropriately incremented. Themagnification of the image being displayed is decreased by using thecursor control device 50 to position the cursor outside of the innerregion but inside of the outer region and clicking the cursor controldevice. As the magnification is thus decreased, the size of the innerregion 102 is increased appropriately relative to the outer region 106and the magnification factor 104 is appropriately decremented.

The position of the inner region 102 within the outer region 106represents the portion of the entire original image being displayedwithin the image display window 110. The portion of the image beingdisplayed within the image display window 110 is changed by clicking anddragging the inner region 102 to the desired position within the outerregion 106 using the cursor control device 50. As the position of theinner region 102 changes within the outer region 106, the portion of theimage displayed within the image display window 110 changesappropriately.

The display 36 including the image display window 110 and a graphicaluser interface including the zoom control box 100, according to thepresent invention, is illustrated in FIGS. 2-4. The zoom control box 100of the present invention preferably includes two regions 102 and 106.The outer region 106 forms the outer edge of the zoom control box 100and represents the entire available original image. The inner region102, is included and positioned within the outer region 106 andrepresents a region of interest of the original image currently beingdisplayed within the image display window 110. Within the inner region102, a magnification factor 104 is displayed, representing the currentmagnification being applied to the image displayed within the imagedisplay window 110.

The magnification factor 104 is changed by using a cursor control device50 to select an appropriate region within the zoom control box 100. Auser zooms in on a specific portion of the image to increase themagnification factor 104 by using the cursor control device 50 toposition the cursor within the inner region 102 of the zoom control box100 and clicking the cursor control device 50. When the user positionsthe cursor within the inner region 102 of the zoom control box 100 andclicks the cursor control device 50, the inner region 102 becomesappropriately smaller in size and the magnification factor 104 isincremented. By clicking the cursor control device 50 when the cursor ispositioned within the inner region 102 a number of times, the innerregion 102 becomes continually smaller in size and the magnificationfactor 104 is incremented a number of times equal to the number of timesthat the cursor control device 50 is clicked.

A user zooms out on a specific portion of the image to decrease themagnification factor 104 by using the cursor control device 50 toposition the cursor within the outer region 106, but outside of theinner region 102, and clicking the cursor control device 50. When theuser positions the cursor within the outer region 106, but outside ofthe inner region 102 and clicks the cursor control device 50, the innerregion 102 becomes appropriately larger in size and the magnificationfactor 104 is decremented. By positioning the cursor outside of theinner region 102, but within the outer region 106, and clicking thecursor control device 50 a number of times, the inner region 102 becomesincreasingly larger with each click and the magnification factor 104 isdecremented a number of times equal to the number of times that thecursor control device 50 is clicked, until the magnification factor isequal to 1.

The inner region 102 also has a pan or positional feature within theouter region 106, such that the position of the inner region 102 withinthe outer region 106 represents the portion of the entire original imagewhich is being displayed within the image display window 110. Theposition of the inner region 102 is changed within the outer region 106by using the cursor control device 50 to click and drag the inner region102 to the desired position within the outer region 106. Accordingly,the inner region 102 graphically represents what portion of the entireimage is currently being displayed within the image display window 110and what magnification factor 104 is currently being used to make thisselected portion of the original image fit within the image displaywindow 110.

The default or original state of the zoom control box 100 is illustratedin FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the magnification factor 104 is equal to one (1)and the size and position of the inner region 102 represents that theentire original image is being displayed within the image display window110. To increase the magnification at which the image is beingdisplayed, and zoom in on a smaller portion of the original image, theuser positions the cursor within the inner region 102 and clicks thecursor control device 50, thereby increasing the magnification factor104 and decreasing the size of the inner region 102.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example wherein the magnification factor 104within the zoom control box 100 has been increased to two (2), by usingthe cursor control device 50 to position the cursor within the innerregion 102 and clicking the cursor control device 50. Also within theexample of FIG. 3, the inner region 102 has been moved into the topleft-hand corner of the outer region 106, by using the cursor controldevice 50 to click and drag the inner region 102 into that positionwithin the outer region 106. As shown in FIG. 3, the top left-handcorner of the original image illustrated in FIG. 2, has been increasedby a factor of two (2) and displayed in the image display window 110.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example wherein the image displayed within theimage display window 110 represents a magnified image from the originalimage with a magnification factor of two (2). Within the example of FIG.4, the inner region 102 has been moved into the lower right-hand cornerof the outer region 106 using the cursor control device 50 to click anddrag the inner region 102 into that position within the outer region106. As shown in FIG. 4, the lower right-hand corner of the originalimage illustrated in FIG. 2, has been increased by a factor of two (2)and displayed in the image display window 110.

To zoom in further on the original image, the user uses the cursorcontrol device 50 to position the cursor within the inner region 102 andclicks, thereby increasing the magnification factor 104 and decreasingthe relative size of the inner region 102. To zoom out to display moreof the original image within the image display window 110, the user usesthe cursor control device 50 to position the cursor outside of the innerregion 102, but inside of the outer region 106 and clicks the cursorcontrol device 50, thereby decreasing the magnification factor 104 andincreasing the relative size of the inner region 102 until themagnification factor 104 is equal to one (1).

In this manner, the zoom control box 100 of the present inventionprovides a graphical representation of the magnification andrepresentative portion of the original image being displayed within acorresponding image display window 110. It should be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that the zoom control box 100 of the presentinvention can be used to control the display of one or more stillimages, a series of one or more frames within a video stream or thedisplay of one or more graphics or text images. Using a cursor controldevice 50, the user can increase or decrease the magnification of thedisplayed image by appropriately positioning a cursor relative to theinner and outer regions, as described above, and clicking the cursorcontrol device 50. Also using the cursor control device 50, the user canchange the portion of the original image being displayed within theimage display window 110 by changing the position of the inner region102 within the outer region 106. The size and position of the innerregion 102 relative to the outer region 106 graphically represents themagnification and representative portion of the original image beingdisplayed within the image display window 110.

The present invention has been described in terms of specificembodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding ofprinciples of construction and operation of the invention. Suchreference herein to specific embodiments and details thereof is notintended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will beapparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made inthe embodiment chosen for illustration without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention. Specifically, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that while the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention includes inner and outer rectangular regions within the zoomcontrol box, any appropriately shaped regions, including any graphics orbitmap defined shapes or areas, can be used to graphically represent theamount of magnification and portion of the original image beingdisplayed within the image display window.

1. A system for displaying at least a selected portion of an originalimage, comprising: an image source providing at least one image; acomputer system, coupled to the image source, comprising a computerprocessor, and a graphical display having a cursor; wherein the computerprocessor is configured to display on the graphical display an outerregion representing a size and shape of the original image, an innerregion representing a size, shape, and position of the selected portionof the original image, and the size of the selected portion relative tothe size of the original image representing a magnification factor ofthe original image; and wherein the computer processor is configured toincrease the magnification factor in response to an input size commandgenerated by selecting the inner region, and to decrease themagnification factor in response to the input size command generated byselecting the outer region.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein thecomputer system further includes a cursor control device coupled to thecomputer processor, the computer processor is configured to position thecursor within the graphical display in response to a signal from thecursor control device and to select a given one of the inner region andouter region in response to a click of the cursor control device afterthe cursor is positioned on the given one of the inner region and outerregion.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer processor isconfigured to select the outer region when the cursor is positioned inthe outer region but outside of the inner region.
 4. The system of claim2, wherein the computer processor is further configured to display themagnification factor in the inner region.
 5. A method of controllingmagnification of a selected portion of an original image displayedwithin a display of a computing device comprising: displaying on thedisplay by the computing device a control box including an inner regionpositioned within an outer region, wherein a size of the inner regionrelative to a size of the outer region represents a magnification factorof the original image and further wherein a position of the inner regionwithin the outer region represents the selected portion of the originalimage being displayed within the display; increasing the magnificationfactor, by the computing device, in response to an input size commandgenerated by selecting the inner region; and decreasing themagnification factor by the computing device, in response to the inputsize command generated by selecting the outer region.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, further comprising changing by the computing device theposition of the inner region within the outer region in response to aninput position command.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the increasingof the magnification factor comprises the computing device increasingmagnification of the original image in response to receiving the inputsize command generated by selecting the inner region.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, wherein the decreasing of the magnification factor comprisesthe computing device decreasing magnification of the original image inresponse to receiving the input size command generated by selecting theouter region.
 9. The method of claim 5, wherein the selecting of theinner region includes positioning with a cursor control device a cursorin the inner region and then clicking the cursor control device; and theselecting of the outer region includes positioning with the cursorcontrol device the cursor in the outer region and then clicking thecursor control device.
 10. An apparatus comprising: means for displayinga selected portion of an original image and a control box including aninner region positioned within an outer region, wherein a size of theinner region relative to a size of the outer region represents amagnification factor of the original image and further wherein aposition of the inner region within the outer region represents theselected portion of the original image being displayed within thedisplay; means for increasing the magnification factor in response to aninput size command generated by selecting the inner region; and meansfor decreasing the magnification factor in response to the input sizecommand generated by selecting the outer region.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 10, further comprising means for changing the position of theinner region within the outer region in response to an input positioncommand.
 12. An article of manufacture including a computer-readablemedium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by acomputing device, cause the computing device to perform a methodcomprising: displaying a selected portion of an original image and acontrol box on a display, the control box including an inner regionpositioned within an outer region, wherein a size of the inner regionrelative to a size of the outer region represents a magnification factorof the original image and further wherein a position of the inner regionwithin the outer region represents the selected portion of the originalimage being displayed; increasing the magnification factor in responseto an input size command generated by selecting the inner region; anddecreasing the magnification factor in response to the input sizecommand generated by selecting the outer region.
 13. The article ofmanufacture of claim 12, wherein the computer readable medium is a fixedstorage device, a medium for use with a removable storage device, or amemory.